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WALLY

Princess Kwade

An Artist's Hands - Saima Khan

Moonlit Dance - Sreeranjini Pillai

Art by Thammiha Rasakumar

Studying Together - Muskaan Khaidun

A Significant Change - Ashve Inkgaran

I ate an apple midway through so the effect wore away - Bana Bawan

Origami: A dying art or the future of scientific careers? - Alice Brown

In Midwinter - Aksharaa Chandrasakan

Behind Bars: A Feeling of Constant Suffocation - Zaynab Quraishi

The Importance of Authenticity - Victoria Mathew

Art by Gua Gua He

Crochet Mini Frog - Noorjahan Mohamed Isac

Appamma - Kayaththiri Nanthakumar

Can the power of friendship really save the world? - Sreeranjini Pillai

WOHAA is more than just charity work! - Princess Kwade

The Jack Petchey "Speak Out" Challenge - Hafsah Saleem

Gene Editing: the good, the bad, the ugly - Alexa Aka

Meet the SPT 2025 - Samiya Haneefa

Tick goes the clock… - Ananya Sethuraman

An Artist's Hands

My hands are not the most "attractive", stereotypically. They're littered with scars, burns and cuts, mishaps of enthusiasm while I cook and bake, and often stained with splotches of ink and graphite smudges. My nails are always cut short and rarely painted or shaped, because that just makes it more inconvenient when I have to sculpt and shape clay.

But it's never bothered me how rough and weathered my hands look. Rather, I feel abnormal and un if there's not s some sma some shine and smeared onto my It fee and s when I've been to my hands seem so so i b

Like a canvas nobody bothered to paint on.

Sometimes I wish the colour would spread past my hands, past my arms, and engulf me like a brilliant kaleidoscope, the most vibrant declaration of life.

-By Saima Khan, 11 Pankhurst

Moonlit Dance

I do not know how to waltz, So forgive the odd misstep. A shift In rhythm throws me off far more Than your masterful hands can save. A Find myself falling – cliché, is it not?

The tempo swiftens, old trainers pumping Against kitchen tiles – ballroom in an Instant once frayed curtains draw back. Halo of silver reflection behind your head. You dance – I get pulled along.

And once you tire – off to couch or pillow –Three moves ahead as you catch with grace, My head lolled back into your arms as we dance With sweetened words instead – a Pity you’re only good on your feet.

And instead of a bow, or curtsy, from me You’ll bid my knuckles goodbye with a kiss –Promises befitting a bejewelled masquerade Rather than in the apartment of a once love: Not for here, not for us.

So, my moonlit love, I’ll warn you this –By our next dance, I’m all yours.

Sreeranjini Pillai

Studying Together

Strolling into the library with his bag slung over his shoulder and two hot chocolates occupying his hands, the boy’s features soften instantaneously upon laying his eyes on the girl curled up at a cluttered table in the corner of the open space, her immediate surroundings an organised chaos much like her current state of mind, he thinks

“Hey darling…” he whispers with a quiet smile, pausing in his approach only to set down the two drinks next to each other and drop his bag onto the chair next to her prior to cupping her cheeks, gently drawing her out of the depths of her thoughts to press a soft kiss to her forehead.

Despite his verbal greeting, his presence still catches her off-guard as she startles, wide-eyed and bemused, though soon relaxes upon realising that it’s him, a shaky giggle subconsciously escaping her lips as she leans into his touch; gratitude swelling up in her chest at how he remains a calm and unassuming character regardless of how often this happens with him knowing in his heart that she doesn’t mean harm with her cluelessness, only that it’s one of her small quirks, tuning out the whole world around her whilst she studies

“No headphones either, that’s a new record for you sweetheart!” unable to help but softly tease her as he darts his head from side to side to check if she has her earbuds in, the latter can’t help but grow increasingly shy in response as their gazes jointly shift to her closed

headphones case on the table, timidity influencing her actions and leading her to respond with merely a nervous smile and shrug.

“‘M sorry?…” offering an apology in the hopes that he’ll accept, he merely shakes his head and shifts his bag onto the floor prior to taking a seat beside her, grasping her left hand in his own and caressing the back of her palm with his thumb to soothe her and ease the anxiety biting away at her quickening heart; you ’ re okay, I’m not mad or upset, he wants to say

Squeezing his hand three times, I love you is what she wordlessly responds

“Hot Hot chocolate?” she prompts quietly with a smile, nudging her head in the direction of the two cups on the table, eliciting a small smile of his own once more as he nods gently, tapping his index finger against her cup

“Medium with an extra sugar, just how y’like it,” he answers with a growing sense of gratification at her giddy expression, deciding to guide the conversation to what’s currently preoccupying her by shifting his chair closer to hers, resting his chin on her shoulder and murmuring tenderly into her ear, “Now, what’s got mon amour so stressed, hm?”

At her bewildered expression, he quickly continues on before she can attempt to voice any feeble denial of his observation, “You’ve got that furrow between your eyebrows, and your smile isn’t dimpling like it normally does it’s pretty obvious, y’know.”

Deflating upon realising that she can’t get out of this one with a simple ‘I’m fine!’ like usual, she reluctantly

concedes and leans back against her chair, squiggling mindless swirls of blue onto her whiteboard that she carries around, frowning gently with her quiet confession, “Just remembering everything for protein synthesis is really starting to get on my nerves; it it’s supposed to be straightforward, but I can’t remember it all for the life of me!”

“Shh, shh, I get it ” consoling her and firmly grasping her hand that’s doodling before capping the whiteboard pen, he wraps his other arm around her stomach and tenderly kisses her temple, “Let’s just take it step-bystep, mmkay?”

With a tired sigh, the girl musters the mental strength to nod gently and acquiesce to her love’s idea, subconsciously going quiet in a manner similar to how she was before, prior to his arrival, as he begins to explain one of the most confusing yes, confusing, let’s not kid ourselves concepts of biology to her, wanting nothing more than to help her understand the one facet of understanding that’s been eluding her since the start of this topic

Once a further thirty minutes fly by in a blur of his quiet explanations and her soft protests of bemusement, she finally seems to have found a fresh outlook on the process as a whole if the soft gasp of realisation that escapes her lips whilst her irises glimmer softly indicates anything and a sleepy smile graces her features, prompting the duo to turn in their seats to face each other properly as she speaks again

“Thank you, ” she murmurs, weary eyes fluttering shut as she melts into the warmth of his touch, head falling comfortably against his

chest and fingers fidgeting with his black-and-blue tie

“Thank you, love ” he responds with an equal level of quietness, hands lacing themselves in her windmussed hair and massaging her scalp in the most delicate manner imaginable as he dips his head to press a kiss to her hairline once more

In the end, it’s him her safe place It’s always been him, with his comforting words and gentle touch.

For him, it’s always been her too his soft girl, who at the end of the day, just wants to feel cared for and loved more than anything else in the world, even if she doesn’t say it.

And he’ll eternally be more than happy to treasure her and cradle her fragile heart in his hands, because love is in the little things, and those moments mean more than words will ever be able to describe

– Muskaan Khaidun, 12MNI

ASignificantChange

The howling tempest swirling within, As the explorers wave farewell with a grin. They step into the great machine of doom, For an adventure that awaits with dreading gloom

The blasting wind and flashing lights Engulfs the faces with different heights. They tremble with fear for the past they shall see, For the fate following them that would be…

Alas, they have arrived, Into their lives that have been revived, Awaiting to be changed,

A change the present shall rearrange Even for the future.

They stealthily enter the old, primeval lab, That had once been tampered with the flash of a jab. If only the evil had not spilled the cure, The world today would be as pure.

A world threatening decision, Not even with precision

If the endogenous wretch spreads across mankind, The world being in shambles; a bio war knot we cannot unwind. Humanity slowly dying, would be the fate assigned…

Time is ticking But the thought is pricking

At last, the courage to erase the spill Had been done with a spine curdling chill. Each second, each minute, each hour Has waited for them - the time to empower

That will forever suture the intended And leave its mark in history attended.

Iateanapplemidwaythroughso

the

effectworeaway -BanaBawan,year9

It’s dark.

It’s an abyss of pitch-black

Yet, sounds emerge from it like a beast’s roar.

It’s acidic and ravenous, yet this jungle, this dungeon, is ever-gurgling, roaring, asking for more

This delicious dungeon is the pinnacle of desire

With each roar, you grow allured, With each snap of its jaws your desire blooms and reaches the tip of your tongue, It’s a luscious, bittersweet desire. One that, once satisfied, isn’t satisfying anymore.

A desire satisfied is bland:

It doesn’t ignite a fire in the abyss; It doesn’t set your imagination alight; It’s just gone

Biting into an apple, hearing that satisfying crisp crunch.. having the succulent juice on my tongue

I’m a man starved, and yet you have access to such delights at the tip of your fingers My stomach growls at a thousand hertz. It’s ravenous. It’s screaming. It’s screechingIt’s growling Kicking Howling

It’s all-consuming.

And now I’ve eaten, and the desire is no more It’s quenched and quelled and I could soar

I’ve succumbed to the desire: The kind that sets your lips on fire; The kind that creates a never-ending fantasy of..

I was hungry.

Origami: A dying art or the future of scientific careers?

When you think of origami, what do you think of? I wouldn’t blame you if it was paper cranes, chatterboxes or cicadas. Maybe some of you have tried it yourself, to gift to friends or keep as decorations. Origami may seem like a fun (yet surprisingly difficult) artistic pastime, but what if I were to tell you that folded animals is only the start. Not only is there a vast and wonderful history, routing back to the invention of paper in 5th Century China, but Origami is actively pioneering technological developments in space, communications, medicine and obviously, art.

Origami has undergone a revolution over the last century. Masters of the art form, such as Akira Yoshizawa and Robert J. Lang have revolutionised, and modernised origami, by creating increasingly complex and mathematical designs. Currently, researchers at Oxford and Cambridge have been developing brain electrodes that can fold up to a fraction of their original size. This has the potential to significantly aid and progress diagnosis and treatment of serious conditions such as epilepsy and is only one potential use of origami in serious technological fields of the future.

Beyond simple party designs, and neuroscience, origami’s application is still multifaceted. A specific type of origami (my personal favourite), called ‘Modular Origami’, involves using multiple separate pieces of paper, and folding (still without the use of cuts and/or glues) them into the desired final product. Though first found in the 1734 book “Ranma Zushiki”, it is within the 20th century that modular origami has become widespread, and been developed into the precise scientific art it is today. Due to their often symmetrical and geometric nature, Modular origami designs are often used to represent cells, molecules, viruses and germs. In addition, modular designs are often used to represent complex mathematical shapes, and many modern origami masters, such as Tom Hull, and Dr Robert J Lang, are deeply involved in the worlds of STEM.

Hopefully by now I’ve started to convince you that origami isn’t just for artists with hours of freedom to fold. It may seem like a stretch, or two worlds that would never interact, but origami is even present, and at the frontline, of developments in space travel and exploration. Origami has the helpful attribute of, as might be obvious: folding. Sending things to space has the inconvenient attribute of having to get very large items actually into space, which has (over the last century) proved to be quite a difficult task to achieve and then make at all efficient. In recent decades, NASA has been incorporating origami, the art of folding, into their technology. Notably, the James Webb Space Telescope, after its launch on the 25th December 2021, had to unfold itself into space, approximately 1.5 million kilometers from it’s launch site on Earth. With a sunshield measuring 21m x 14m (about the size of a tennis court), engineers used origami-inspired folding techniques to compactly store it within the nose of the Ariadne 5 rocket that carried it to space. This huge sunshield now helps keep the similarly large primary mirror of the telescope cool, thus allowing for correct – and groundbreaking – function of the telescope, furthering our access and understanding of the expanse of space all around us.

As you can see, origami is not just cranes, chatterboxes and cicadas. While these associations are not by any means false, they represent only a small part of what origami truly is, and is becoming. In a school full of aspiring medics, engineers, and scientists (along with the small but steadfast population of artists and essayists), origami is very much relevant, and offers a unique link between tradition and innovation, as well as genuine fun and creativity with the technologies and careers of the future

<--- 120 unit folded chamfered dodecahedron. Folded by me, with mathematician Tom Hull’s PHiZZ unit design.

By Alice Brown - 12VME

In Midwinter

January comes with a sense of joy, optimism and new beginnings as the New Year arrives. It makes you see the beautiful things in life, makes you look out for positivity and fills you with all the more happiness when you find what you seek, even if it is just the smallest piece of goodness. When it is cold, we look for snow, and when it rains, we look for faint rainbows in the sky. The birds don't sing as loud as they do with the coming of spring, but the few melodies we do hear feel like a little gift, as the joys of the warmer seasons aren't completely lost in winter. The sharp darkness of winter's lengthened nights is a beautiful contrast to its calmer sunrises. Unlike the vibrancy of summer's dawns, these sunrises are almost faded, blending in perfectly with the snowcovered surroundings and bringing a surreal peace with it. Its treasures feel like small blessings, as each piece of euphoria fills us with a warmth unlike summer's; it feels more precious and combats the cold nights.

It is true that with snow comes slippery grey sludge after a torrent of people rushing about their daily lives, with rain comes mud and puddles that scar and ruin our shoes and clothes, with freezing temperatures comes runny noses and red faces, and with longer nights comes darker days and too-short mornings, but it is the fleeting pleasures of midwinter that makes it so special compared to the everlasting warmth and sun of summer days. A fleeting snowfall, a fleeting glimpse of a sunrise, a fleeting breeze... These are truly the most wondrous treasures that the season has to offer.

Aksharaa Chandrasakan, 8 Athena

BEHIND BARS; A FEELING

OF CONSTANT SUFFOCATION

You’re confined to a space the size of a parking spot. You have never been able to see without bars in your vision. You have no freedom of movement or privacy. A feeling of constant suffocation.

For many animals, this is a reality. Approximately 4 million animals are held in captivity in zoos each year.

Birds with wings designed for flight are often confined to cages so small they cannot extend their wings. This is simply cruel and unethical as animals are deserving of respect and dignity beyond their utility to humans.

Animals in captivity endure significant physical and psychological stress. Small enclosures, lack of stimulation, and isolation from their natural social structures are common conditions.

Zoochosis

Many animals exhibit signs of this condition which is marked by repetitive behaviours like pacing, bar-biting or selfmutilation, resulting from extreme stress and confinement. For example, a study conducted by the Born Free Foundation revealed that 75%of elephants in European zoos displayed abnormal behaviors, such as swaying and headbobbing. Legal protection for captive animals remains inconsistent.

The Animal Welfare Act

The US sets basic standards for the treatment of animals in captivity, but it excludes many species like birds and reptiles. Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species. This organisation regulars the trade of certain species, but illegal wildlife trade remains a profitable industry, generating up to $23 billion annually.

Animals are frequently caged and sold in live animal markets, where they are forced to survive in horrific conditions. A 2019 report by the World Animal Protection found that approximately 3 million birds and 1.5 million reptiles are traded globally each year. These animals are transported in cramped, unsanitary conditions, leading to high mortality rates and the spread of diseases.

By Zaynab

Quraishi12PRL

The Importance of Authenticity

Maybe you think you're cringy Maybe you think you know you're cringy Because someone came up to you in year 8 and told you were cringy Or perhaps you think you're too boring to engage anyone in a conversation. You're so boring in fact, that your mother uses you to put the kids to sleep when she can't sing them a lullaby because your voice alone does a better job Maybe somebody told you when you were in year 5 that you stink Or that you're ugly, or that you're rude or that you're annoying And so, it might seem like nothing, until you grow and grow and grow, and the thoughts grow with you

To please, or not to please. That is the real question. After some years, you get old enough to become conscious of the world around you, and the concept of perception You become aware that others have their own opinions and thoughts on you just like you do on others

Your childhood innocence sheds off like a lizard’s scales, and now you are left with a steaming hot pile of self-awareness Welcome to life

Now, you might notice that you've found yourself dealing with a mortal dilemma. Who do you want to be, and who does the rest of the world want you to be? You want to be yourself, but you also want to be accepted for what you are And how exactly do you find the intersection of both worlds? It’s not like you can have your cake and eat it too, as you ’ ve probably heard someone tell you A million times

Well, let’s say you walk into a big fat party one night, and you're immediately hit with the crazy wild scene, and you find some random group at the corner of the room and decide to talk to them when it suddenly hits The self-consciousness

You become hyper aware of yourself You look down, sweat pouring like a torrent of rain down to your shoes, as the walls start to close in on you and your breaths become short and frantic. Now, you're looking at this party from another lens. You’re looking from the outside in.

All of a sudden, you ’ ve found yourself acquainted with the concept of "the self" "What am I wearing?", "What will they think of me?" "What am I doing?", "Where am I going with this?", and the most important of all to you at this very moment Not so much the "Who am I?", as many people often wrongly seem to assign to every situation but more relevantly the "Who do I want them to think I am?".

So, you stand in the middle of the crowd, the music blaring in your ears Paralysed in fear and pain as the dilemma of the self creeps back in again, and you're left at a loss for words You see the crowd at the corner of the room again, but you don't register, and your eyes instead glaze over in fear and panic of judgement and perception The self-consciousness has gotten to you. And as you stand in the middle of that crowd and begin to close your eyes, the last thing you realise before the room turns to black is that you're about to shut off

All because you were told once you were cringey, you were told once you were annoying, rude, gross, weird, whatever. And so now you don't know what to believe. You don’t want to be called rude, gross or weird ever again, so you try to find a way to escape yourself And even after succeeding in that you still shut off because now you don’t know who you are You don’t know what you want to be anymore, you don’t know what they want from you. In short, you ’ re lost

And you ’ re going to remain lost, because you ’ re never going to know what they want from you Like that time Angie Thomas said you could do everything right and things will still go wrong You could kill that part of yourself that lives and breathes in an attempt to become the most likeable person and still find that one person who finds you cringy no matter what. So to be honest, it’s not really any of your business at all, what they want from you It won’t help you in any way and letting other people’s opinions dictate the way you should live your life is just another form of slavery at the end of the day, just a mental one Maybe some people do find you cringy, maybe you really are cringy, but the point is at the end of the day that you know who you are, and you live your life as you want it, without constantly feeling the need to live up to anyone ’ s expectations, because that is the second purest form of freedom (after being incredibly rich, which is first, because rich people can do whatever the hell they want, like cover themselves in 30,000 crystals *ahem Doja Cat*) Your own people will find you no matter what, and other people’s opinions aren’t worth the blood that runs through your veins.

So, stop acting like a spineless wuss and go talk to that crowd over there, you stupid fool

-Victoria Mathew, Year 12

Gua Gua He - Year 10

Appamma

She was the one who looked at me, And knew the person I would be, She was the one who called to me, And asked me if I was coming to visit her.

I told her that I would be on my way, To see her on a summer day. One holiday I went to stay, And I offered to plait her shiny hair. She sat down, calm and collected, And let my tiny fingers work away.

I was the only granddaughter of hers, She really favoured me unlike the others, And she gave me everything I could ever ask for, The unconditional love that spread around her Was warm and comforting, like a hug.

Her hazel eyes, glistened with hope, She gripped me tight, like a rope.

I was back home, on an Autumn night, When suddenly my dad came in, looked a fright. Trickling specks of grief rolled down his cheek, Leaving a trail of permanent stain, I've never seen him like this before, Not manly, strong or what I was hoping for. He couldn't breathe, speak or control, But the silence just screamed it all!

We knew that something was incredibly wrong, The emptiness poured and it felt so long. Once he was in the room and sat in a chair, He dropped the bomb for us to share.

The word, "DEAD," shrieked rapidly in my ears, Like being stabbed with sharp, stinging spears.

Guilt came gushing through my bones, All the way up to my throat. I fled to the sink and let it all out, My head was spinning, what was he on about?

I made a promise to her.

I told her that I would be on my way, To see her on a summer day.

But I didn't, I didn't come to see you Appamma, I left you alone and I said to wait. So, this is my way to ask for forgiveness, Through this poem of our love and our memories.

I will meet you one day Appamma, And from that day onwards, I will be with you forever.

I love you Appamma.

- Kayaththiri NANTHAKUMAR, 9 Athena

Can the power of friendshipreally save the world?

By Sreeranjini Pillai

You might notice that, in children’s TV shows and several fairytales, the idealised ‘ power of friendship’ is often marked as a mighty force that thwarts evil every other episodic story – relationships as the noble ‘good’ that undoes the harm perpetrated on the majority of the cast by spiteful, unlikeable villains.

If the extensive Valentine’s Day themed goods was not sign enough, this sentiment is also echoed in social perception of relationships – people who are single often portrayed as lonely and miserable, whilst those in relationships or have several deep friendships are always joyous and enviable. If you could sell love as a drug (like in its colloquially comparison), you could argue that you’d be rich in an instant.

However, what this truly brings to question is this: why are interpersonal relationships so valuable and can the ‘ power of friendship’ really save the world?

To start off, from a biological level, humans have evolved over time to have a physiology (the molecular mechanisms in the body) that responds positively to ‘social acceptance ’ . Since humans were at a significant disadvantage as isolated individuals, the need to be part of a community has evolved to improve human survival – referencing the need to belong, the term coined for the desire to form and maintain close, lasting relationships with other individuals (Baumeister and Leary, 1995). Whilst an individual won ’ t fare well in surviving in harsher environments or in procuring nutrition by themselves, forming small and secure social circles is an advantage as the community could care for and protect one another – improving life expectancy and likelihood to survive and have offspring. As such, humans have evolved to be happier when they feel ‘socially accepted’ and to implicitly want acceptance when they have been ‘socially rejected’.

What you may have noticed is that, in the above, there was no mention of relationships or friendships. This is because relationships and friendships aren ’ t prerequisites for ‘social acceptance ’ – anything that satisfies a person ' s social needs could suffice. Of course, this does not mean that people who have relationships or friendships are being excessive, nor do I suggest giving up your friends and familial connections entirely either. What this does point out is that there is no fixed approach for an individual to fulfil their social needs – there is no necessary need for everyone to be in a romantic relationship nor for people to have thousands offriendships.

In fact, social acceptance can come in several different forms: seeing your pet wanting your attention (for example, a cat that decides to come to you first), speaking in a conversation or even have others wanting to listen, being chosen for a group project, getting MVP in a team-based video game (especially if it’s competitive) – the list goes on. What remains constant, however, is the fact that these small moments of acceptance have a profound effect on a person ' s health – several studies suggesting a causal relationship between those events and the length of a person ' s life!

Whilst many people may still choose and want to have romantic relationships and be highly social (neither of which are wrong in any sense of the terms), it is also important to acknowledge that neither of these have to be present for a person have good physical and mental health. So, whilst the ‘ power of friendship’ can (theoretically) save the world and improve our own health, the main importance lies in why we engage in relationships/friendships and recognising what others offer you as wells as what you offer them.

After all, a small act of acceptance could save the world!

WOHAA is more than just charity work!

By Princess Kwade

This school year at Wallington High School for Girls has been a fresh start for many students. For some, it has meant starting again, with new Wally Girls joining the sixth form. For others, this year marks the end of a long run with year 11s and 13s preparing for their final exams.

Moreover, we have seen a number of new additions. These additions include changes to the school building, which are still ongoing, and even the introduction of the Wings of Hope Achievement Award (WoHAA). WoHAA is a scheme in which students raise money to educate children in Chennai and Malawi while actively developing a range of skills, such as leadership and communication.

Recently, The Hope Brigade, a team of students participating in the challenge held a hot chocolate and cookie sale, which attracted a lot of attention. The team stated that they were driven by going beyond their comfort zones, working alongside others and the chance to make a positive impact while having fun.

This includes not just an impact in the lives of the charity but also an impact in the school community, seeing as The Hope Brigade felt they had raised school spirit.

“Seeing our school rally around a common goal definitely boosted the sense of community and school pride,” they said, “it felt like we were all part of something bigger, working as a team for a meaningful purpose.

”

They were also the first WoHAA group to set up a stand, hence inspiring other groups to build confidence and do the same.

The group has reportedly gained a range of skills, which include time management, especially when balancing school work and the challenge; greater confidence when sharing their ideas; courage to take on new responsibilities and communication.

While having achieved those things they also hope to challenge themselves in new ways and make lasting memories, all while working towards an important cause.

As you can see, WoHAA is more than just charity work. It builds up the people directly involved as well as their communities.

The Jack Petchey “Speak Out” Challenge

Recently, the Jack Petchey “Speak Out” Challenge’s Sutton Regional Final was held at Wallington High School for Girls. The night was a fantastic event, featuring Year 10 speakers from across the borough covering topics like bilingualism, adaptability and AI.

The competition runs every year, with the Jack Petchey foundation having raised over £170 million towards empowering and building self confidence in young people across London and Essex. This year, there were 35,000 participants in the competition, with 1111 just from Sutton. The best 20 were then carefully selected to represent their schools at this event

Each student gave a 3 minute speech about a topic of their choice, with the judging criteria being focused on the content, delivery, structure, and most importantly, the impact of their speeches. The judging panel was comprised of experts in their field, adept at public speaking, including Helen Wieland, a presenter, actor, and Jack Petchey alumna, and Mikolaj Radosz, the regional runner-up for last year’s final.

Wallington had two of its own participants: Nivedya Edathadan and Estela Joseph.

Nivedya’s speech, titled ‘Uniting Heart and Mind’, explored what it means to be emotionally intelligent, and how our feelings are our ‘everyday fuel to tackle the daily world’. She encouraged the audience to accept these emotions and develop our self-regulation, leaving us with a message inspiring us to make ‘the world a better place’ with our empathy.

Photograph: Courtesy of the Jack Petchey Foundation

Estela’s speech ‘A Jumble of Almosts’ revolved around diversity in media. Describing herself as ‘wanting to make a difference in the world’, she delivered a powerful piece, drawing upon her own intersecting experiences being Spanish, Indian and British, and how she never saw herself reflected in characters like Disney princesses. Estela emphasised the importance of having role models to aspire to and to celebrate our differences, with the closing statement: “the beauty of the rainbow is with us today”.

The event was tied together perfectly by MC Sophia McCart’s humour and cheer, the regional winner of 2024’s Speak Out Challenge, and a year 11 student at WHSG Along with this, the intervals were occupied by incredible musical performances by Parvathi Pillai and Sachi Karlekar.

The climax of the event was the announcement of the winners, with WHSG’s own Estela Joseph winning the coveted first place prize She, along with 37 other regional finalists, will be competing for 15 places at the Grand Final, held at Cambridge Theatre in the West End in early July. We wish her all the best and are excited to see where this experience takes her next!

Photograph: Courtesy of the Jack Petchey Foundation

meet the meet the

As the Senior Prefect Team of 2024-25 start to finish their A-Level and thus their Wallington Girls Journeys, a fresh new cohort of twelve senior prefects join the fray! But other than their prefect duties, who are the people making the decisions for our student body?

ourheadgirls ourheadgirls

Efe Efe

Subjects – Spani Subjects – Spanish, Chemistry, Maths sh, Chemistry, Maths

Lucy Lucy

Subjects – PE Subjects – PE, Biology, Psychology , Biology, Psychology

Why she applied and her favourite parts of the job

Why she applied and her favourite parts of the job thus far – “I wanted to help others and to spread a thus far – “I wanted to help others and to spread a message of kindness over the school. I’ve loved message of kindness over the school. I’ve loved meeting new people, public speaking, and being meeting new people, public speaking, and being able to share ideas with others making them a able to share ideas with others making them a reality ”reality.”

Why she applied and her favourite parts of the job

Why she applied and her favourite parts of the job thus far – “I applied because I knew I’d be able to thus far – “I applied because I knew I’d be able to make a positive impact on the school. I could be a make a positive impact on the school. I could be a voice for younger students and a positive role voice for younger students and a positive role model, particularly amongst other young women model, particularly amongst other young women of power. I wanted to show that it is possible to be of power I wanted to show that it is possible to be a leader no matter your background and hopefully a leader no matter your background and hopefully this is something I will continue to prove in the this is something I will continue to prove in the next year. I have enjoyed being a part of a next year. I have enjoyed being a part of a dedicated team, organising the Alumni Event and dedicated team, organising the Alumni Event and representing the school.” representing the school.”

How she likes her subjects – “I have picked

How she likes her subjects – “I have picked subjects that are well suited towards my skill set. subjects that are well suited towards my skill set. They’re very fun and enjoyable but also give me a They’re very fun and enjoyable but also give me a challenge to work on ” challenge to work on.”

How she likes her subjects – “I find the content of How she likes her subjects – “I find the content of all my A levels so interesting and hope to apply it all my A levels so interesting and hope to apply it to everyday life. Psychology really broadens your to everyday life. Psychology really broadens your mindset, making you much more aware of how mindset, making you much more aware of how and why people act and function in daily life. PE and why people act and function in daily life. PE and biology also have enhanced my understanding and biology also have enhanced my understanding of the human body and what we can do to nurture of the human body and what we can do to nurture and care for it.” and care for it.”

Other details – Lucy is a Corporal in CCF and Other details – Lucy is a Corporal in CCF and also loves running and athletics. also loves running and athletics.

Other details – Efe loves to sing, and her favourite

Other details – Efe loves to sing, and her favourite shows are Modern Family and Gilmore Girls as shows are Modern Family and Gilmore Girls as they are both funny and resonate with her life. they are both funny and resonate with her life

SPT 2025 SPT 2025 yearprefects

yearprefects

Michelle – Year 7 Michelle – Year 7

Subjects – Subjects – Biology, Chemistry, Psychology Biology, Chemistry, Psychology

Why she applied and her favourite parts of the job thus far –

“To be a shoulder to lean on for those who feel that they don’t

“To be a shoulder to lean on for those who feel that they don’t have that or may not be confident to speak up, and my favourite have that or may not be confident to speak up, and my favourite part of the job has been meeting the rest of the team and part of the job has been meeting the rest of the team and working with them ” working with them.”

How she likes her subjects – “Good and challenging but I am

How she likes her subjects – “Good and challenging but I am learning to push myself ” learning to push myself.”

Other details – Michelle is OBSESSED with Modern Family

Other details – Michelle is OBSESSED with Modern Family and the Harry Potter series and the Harry Potter series.

Subjects – Subjects – Biology, Chemistry, English Literature Biology, Chemistry, English Literature

Corrie – Year 9 Corrie – Year 9

Why she applied and her favourite parts of the job thus far – “I wanted to be a role model for students and encourage kindness wanted to be a role model for students and encourage kindness and empowerment in the school, supporting events and and empowerment in the school, supporting events and students. I've loved introducing new people to the school, students I've loved introducing new people to the school, showing them around and answering all their questions.” showing them around and answering all their questions.”

Why she applied and her favourite parts of the job thus far – “I

How she likes her subjects – “Awesome! I love all the new How she likes her subjects – “Awesome! I love all the new ccontent!” ontent!”

Other details – When Scarlett isn’t volunteering or working, she

Other details – When Scarlett isn’t volunteering or working, she can be found writing, reading, gaming, and going on walks. can be found writing, reading, gaming, and going on walks.

Subjects – Subjects – Biology, Chemistry, French, Maths Biology, Chemistry, French, Maths

Why she applied and her favourite parts of the job thus far –

“To take on some responsibility and give back to the Wally Girls

“To take on some responsibility and give back to the Wally Girls community. And also, to strengthen my teamwork skill and community. And also, to strengthen my teamwork skill and organisation. I enjoy being able to be responsible for things organisation I enjoy being able to be responsible for things happening at school such as organising events and having happening at school such as organising events and having meetings with the SPT and I also love being in the SPT team meetings with the SPT and I also love being in the SPT team because this gives me a special type of friendship ” because this gives me a special type of friendship.”

How she likes her subjects – “Really good, the workload is fair, How she likes her subjects – “Really good, the workload is fair, and I am satisfied with my grades ” Other details – Corrie is an and I am satisfied with my grades.” Other details – Corrie is an approachable person and is always happy to help! During her approachable person and is always happy to help! During her free time, she loves listening to music, especially pop and disney free time, she loves listening to music, especially pop and disney music, and she’s also passionate about any type of sport such as music, and she’s also passionate about any type of sport such as swimming, crosscountry, netball, and more swimming, crosscountry, netball, and more.

Scarlett – Year 8 Scarlett – Year 8

meet the meet the

Penelope – Year 10&11

Subjects – Subjects – Biology, Chemistry, Maths Biology, Chemistry, Maths

Why she applied and her favourite parts of the job thus far –

“As a new member of Wallington, I wanted to give back to the “As a new member of Wallington, I wanted to give back to the community and make a positive impact on school life for all community and make a positive impact on school life for all members. I also wanted to help run and take part in organising members. I also wanted to help run and take part in organising and leading events and it also provides me the opportunity to and leading events and it also provides me the opportunity to grow in confidence and develop my leadership skills. I've grow in confidence and develop my leadership skills. I've enjoyed meeting and getting to know the Year 12 and 13 Senior enjoyed meeting and getting to know the Year 12 and 13 Senior Prefect Team, as well as attending student council meetings and Prefect Team, as well as attending student council meetings and helping out in events.” helping out in events ”

How she likes her subjects – “I am really enjoying widening my

How she likes her subjects – “I am really enjoying widening my knowledge in the subjects I love, especially experiencing the knowledge in the subjects I love, especially experiencing the fulfilling sense of independence when carrying out practicals in fulfilling sense of independence when carrying out practicals in science, completing tasks and having more freedom.” science, completing tasks and having more freedom ”

Other details – Penelope loves playing netball on a regular basis

Other details – Penelope loves playing netball on a regular basis and she often draws and crochets in her free-time. and she often draws and crochets in her free-time

Subjects – Maths Subjects – Maths, Computer Science, Physics , Computer Science, Physics

Why she applied and her favourite parts of the job thus far –

Why she applied and her favourite parts of the job thus far –“The Wallington girls community was something I really found “The Wallington girls community was something I really found so welcoming when I moved here so and it was something that I so welcoming when I moved here so and it was something that I wanted to retain and enhance through bringing some new ideas wanted to retain and enhance through bringing some new ideas for school events. It’s been an amazing opportunity meeting up for school events. It’s been an amazing opportunity meeting up with the other senior prefects and discussing ideas for the with the other senior prefects and discussing ideas for the sschool.” chool.”

How she likes her subjects – “My subjects have been going well

How she likes her subjects – “My subjects have been going well however not without their challenges from keeping up with however not without their challenges from keeping up with homework and revision.” homework and revision ”

Other details – Aimee loves completing the Wordle and try the

Other details – Aimee loves completing the Wordle and try the connections (usually without much success). She also does enjoy connections (usually without much success) She also does enjoy reading quite a lot however she has not read very recently reading quite a lot however she has not read very recently unfortunately. unfortunately

Aimee – Year 10&11

SPT 2025 SPT 2025

community community

Saboohi Saboohi

Subjects – Subjects – Biology, Chemistry, Politics Biology, Chemistry, Politics

Why she applied and her favourite parts of the job thus far – “I

Why she applied and her favourite parts of the job thus far – “I applied to become a prefect because I knew I had the capability applied to become a prefect because I knew I had the capability to represent student voice and set an excellent example for to represent student voice and set an excellent example for younger years. Additionally, I was eager to contribute to younger years. Additionally, I was eager to contribute to organising school events, like the school bake off! My organising school events, like the school bake off! My competitiveness also was a contributing factor to my passion for competitiveness also was a contributing factor to my passion for becoming senior prefect In the future I aim to strengthen our becoming senior prefect. In the future I aim to strengthen our school community even more by arranging many competitions school community even more by arranging many competitions and activities In this short time of being community prefect I and activities. In this short time of being community prefect I feel I have created a strong connection with the rest of the feel I have created a strong connection with the rest of the senior prefect team. It is very nice having meetings and just senior prefect team. It is very nice having meetings and just sharing ideas… and just as a bonus, I am loving the lanyard!” sharing ideas… and just as a bonus, I am loving the lanyard!”

How she likes her subjects – “My subjects have been challenging at first, but I feel as the year is going by, I am slowly getting at first, but I feel as the year is going by, I am slowly getting used to the courses and how to revise them.” used to the courses and how to revise them.”

How she likes her subjects – “My subjects have been challenging

Other details – Saboohi loves travelling, netball, Other details – Saboohi loves travelling, netball, baking/cooking. She also plays the piano and takes singing baking/cooking. She also plays the piano and takes singing exams. She has even taken part in a regional badminton exams. She has even taken part in a regional badminton ttournament! ournament!

edi edi

Princess Princess

Subjects – Ph Subjects – Philosophy, Politics, German ilosophy, Politics, German

Why she applied and her favourite parts of the job thus far – “Firstly, Why she applied and her favourite parts of the job thus far – “Firstly, I really value being able to make a difference in my community. I've I really value being able to make a difference in my community I've always participated in school events and helped out, especially always participated in school events and helped out, especially performing at the Fusion Showcase and helping out during the SET. performing at the Fusion Showcase and helping out during the SET

So, I'm honoured to be given the chance to be part of the planning

So, I'm honoured to be given the chance to be part of the planning process and to keep showing up for my school. Honestly just getting process and to keep showing up for my school Honestly just getting to know the other prefects has been my favourite but also getting to to know the other prefects has been my favourite but also getting to know the teachers since we work with them quite closely.” know the teachers since we work with them quite closely ”

How she likes her subjects – “I LOVE THEM!!!!” How she likes her subjects – “I LOVE THEM!!!!”

Other details – Princess is an avid reader and singer; a book she will

Other details – Princess is an avid reader and singer; a book she will ALWAYS recommend is "The Colour Purple " Also, she'd really ALWAYS recommend is "The Colour Purple." Also, she'd really advise the younger years to pick subjects they enjoy because you're in advise the younger years to pick subjects they enjoy because you're in school for a huge chunk of your life and doing something you're school for a huge chunk of your life and doing something you're interested doesn't just motivate you to come to school, it makes your interested doesn't just motivate you to come to school, it makes your entire learning experience more enjoyable and much easier entire learning experience more enjoyable and much easier.

meet the meet the

curriculum curriculum

Armina Armina

Subjects – Subjects – Biology, Chemistry, Geography Biology, Chemistry, Geography

Why she applied and her favourite parts of the job thus far – “I

Why she applied and her favourite parts of the job thus far – “I wanted to make a positive impact on the school by being a bridge wanted to make a positive impact on the school by being a bridge between pupils and teachers and I felt as if this role would allow me between pupils and teachers and I felt as if this role would allow me to do that. I would say that being a senior prefect, also allows me to to do that. I would say that being a senior prefect, also allows me to make further connections with other year groups as throughout the make further connections with other year groups as throughout the year and through events I would be able to understand their interests year and through events I would be able to understand their interests and work to make sure all year groups enjoy a range of events and work to make sure all year groups enjoy a range of events through the school year. I think I love the independence you get through the school year I think I love the independence you get from the job, especially when it comes to organising events from the job, especially when it comes to organising events associated with your role as it gives you a chance to be a leader and associated with your role as it gives you a chance to be a leader and see your ideas come to life.” see your ideas come to life.”

How she likes her subjects – “I love all my subjects as they are so

How she likes her subjects – “I love all my subjects as they are so interesting, and I feel as if they all link with one another which interesting, and I feel as if they all link with one another which makes it a lot more enjoyable as I am able to see similarities in makes it a lot more enjoyable as I am able to see similarities in content across all three es and how to revise them.” content across all three es and how to revise them.”

Other details – Armina loves photography as it helps her to relax

Other details – Armina loves photography as it helps her to relax when school gets overwhelming. She also loves sports especially when school gets overwhelming. She also loves sports especially tennis, as well as being committed to the gym! tennis, as well as being committed to the gym!

charity&environment charity&environment

Zaara Zaara

Subjects – English Subjects – English Literature, Psychology, Philosophy Literature, Psychology, Philosophy

Why she applied and her favourite parts of the job thus far – “I feel that

Why she applied and her favourite parts of the job thus far – “I feel that the next 2 years are going to go by so quickly and I just want to embrace the next 2 years are going to go by so quickly and I just want to embrace every opportunity that comes my way. In the lower years, I always every opportunity that comes my way. In the lower years, I always thought that the senior prefects were responsible, organised and thought that the senior prefects were responsible, organised and confident, traits that I want to develop myself, so I thought that this confident, traits that I want to develop myself, so I thought that this would be a great opportunity to do so. I also want to help and guide the would be a great opportunity to do so I also want to help and guide the younger years, providing support and listening to their ideas I've enjoyed younger years, providing support and listening to their ideas. I've enjoyed meeting new people and discussing plans and ideas It also feels good to meeting new people and discussing plans and ideas. It also feels good to start developing bonds with new teachers and listening/sharing ideas ” start developing bonds with new teachers and listening/sharing ideas.” How she likes her subjects – “I've always enjoyed English and at the How she likes her subjects – “I've always enjoyed English and at the moment, I love studying poetry (which is something I hated during moment, I love studying poetry (which is something I hated during GCSE!). I'm also really enjoying Psychology, and I love how I learn GCSE!). I'm also really enjoying Psychology, and I love how I learn something knew about the mind every day!” something knew about the mind every day!”

Other details – Zaara is a sociable person who talks to a range of

Other details – Zaara is a sociable person who talks to a range of different people but also enjoys some of her ‘me’ time, which includes different people but also enjoys some of her ‘me’ time, which includes baking, reading and watching Gossip Girl! baking, reading and watching Gossip Girl!

SPT 2025 SPT 2025

eventsandmarketing eventsandmarketing

JJenny enny

Subjects – Drama, Subjects – Drama, Biology, Psychology Biology, Psychology

Why she applied and her favourite parts of the job thus far –

“WHSG was my dream school, and getting in was one of my

“WHSG was my dream school, and getting in was one of my greatest accomplishments I now want to give back by greatest accomplishments. I now want to give back by strengthening our community, ensuring every student feels strengthening our community, ensuring every student feels supported, and hosting super fun events that leave a lasting supported, and hosting super fun events that leave a lasting impact. I love getting to meet new people and make friendships. impact. I love getting to meet new people and make friendships. I love events and marketing because I get to help with all the I love events and marketing because I get to help with all the exciting events and see everyone have an amazing time.” exciting events and see everyone have an amazing time.”

How she likes her subjects – “I have a weird mix of subjects, but How she likes her – “I have a weird mix of subjects, but I genuinely enjoy studying all three. Biology is really interesting I genuinely enjoy studying all three. Biology is really interesting but hard work to remember everything. Psychology is intriguing but hard work to remember everything. Psychology is intriguing because you start to analyse everything. Drama is probably my because you start to analyse everything. Drama is probably my favourite because it’s great fun and a nice break.” favourite because it’s great fun and a nice break.” Other details – Jenny loves to cook and bake, especially after a Other details – Jenny loves to cook and bake, especially after a long day. She also watches a lot of movies, and her favourites are long day. She also watches a lot of movies, and her favourites are either a rom com or something really thought provoking. either a rom com or something really thought provoking.

Tick goes the clock...

Ananya Sethuraman (7 Pan)

Tick goes the clock as I wait, Wait for the inevitable pain to death, Had the devil announced this as my fate? To seek the moment of my last breath,

My fatigue drowns me like an impetuous wave, My beautiful body concealed by those ashy scars, Scars as black as rocks in a cave, And yet still no one to cure me,

Tears persistently trickle down my pale face, Wondering when my suffer will come to an end, Praying for the gift of death, So that my pierced heart would mend,

Tick goes the clock as I lay in my coarse bed, Begging for the embrace of death

As if I had taken a blow to the head, I lay motionless, staring ahead,

Day after day, my suffer never stops, My bubo engulfed skin remains repulsive and rough, Will I ever acquire my satisfaction?

Tick, tick, tick goes the clock,

This poem is a simple representation of how impetuous and painful undergoing the plague was during the 13th century. The poem mainly focuses on the girl who is being described and explains what she must suffer from the inexorable disease.

Best contributers of the term

ENTERTAINMENT: EDUCATIONAL:

ART:

Kayaththiri Nanthakumar

Sreeranjini

Pillai

Gua Gua He

We are excited to invite all writers, artists and enthusiasts of creation to have an opportunity to display their talent!

Years 7-13:

You all have the chance to win a prize for this term’s article for outstanding talent along with being featured in the school’s main student-led magazine!

Years 10-13:

Being published looks outstanding on your UCAS application so being featured here will make you stand out from the crowd!

Art by Haaniya Shafi, 10 Pankhurst

Happy

Easter and we thank you all!

If your contribution wasn ' t included in this edition, please keep an eye out for the next issue, where it may be featured On behalf of the Journalism team, we would like to extend our heartfelt thanks to Miss Williams for her invaluable support in the creation of this magazine We would also like to express our sincere gratitude to all the contributors this term Your talent and dedication are what make the WSJ thrive, Thank you all for your hard work and creativity.